Hello to those who have ventured here to read my profile!

I'm 42, a photographer and music lover, and enjoy traveling. In fact, I traveled to Europe in July 2008 with my niece. We went to Manchester, Liverpool, London, Paris, Rome and Venice. It was AMAZING. Paris was my ultimate favorite, and I can't wait to go back.

Fanfiction.net has been a lot of fun for me. I have written for YEARS (literally since 5th grade!), but only in the past few have I been posting where others could read and review. A BIG THANK YOU to all who have taken the time to read and review my stories. If you're a fellow writer and poster of stories, you know just how precious that is.

I will wholeheartedly admit that I'm slow as a turtle when it comes to posting chapters. Why, you ask? I work full time. My dad is 80, and my mom passed away in February 2013. Needless to say, things have been a bit topsy turvy. My dad and dealing with the aftermath of Mom's passing are top priority, and there is LOTS to do. I've also been dating/living with a wonderful man for the past 8 years, and we have two adorable chihuahuas and a loud African Grey. My personality is dominated by air signs (rising is Aquarius, moon is in Libra and, while my sun is Cancer, I'm on the cusp of Gemini, and it's a POWERFUL cusp) so I ALWAYS have multiple projects that I'm working on (see all of my personal links below). As for the actual chapter development, I'm a perfectionist, so I edit and edit and edit and edit before I can finally release a chapter. I put EVERYTHING I can into a chapter; the storyline, the characters, the dialogue, the descriptions, etc. So even though there may be some time in between chapters, you can be assured that a lot of the reason why is because I'm trying to post quality chapters and not just shoot them out with little care. Be patient, stick around and you will be rewarded! (Or at least I hope so!)

A couple personal links if you're interested:

h t t p : / / velvet stormff . blog spot . com / - My blog site where I share with you my visual inspirations & such. When you read mention of it at the end of a chapter, go here!

https://twitter.com/VelvetStormFF - I update about my stories and share some of my favorites that others have written.

I'm not an 'official' beta, but if you want to contact me for any reason (ask me a question, toss an idea out, need someone to glance over a chapter before posting, etc), just shoot me a personal message. I love discussing story lines and character development and such!

My story "When Irish Eyes Are Crying"was nominated for a Quibbler Award in the categories Best Alternate Universe and Most Original! (I couldn't believe it...I've never been nominated for anything!) THANK YOU many times over to whoever was kind enough to think that much of my story!

Another one of my stories "Only In The Dark" was nominated for another Quibbler Award in the category Best Slash. Again, THANK YOU. I know this one is rather eccentric in the pairing, but I hope it's also a bit endearing at the end.

Unfortunately, the web site is no longer up and running, but it was nice to be nominated!!

Recommendations: (I do NOT make these lightly!) Updated 10-20-16!

Harry Potter:

* Hermione/Draco - Do you enjoy an angsty, sensuous, provocative Draco? You will LOVE this story by ilke. Claiming Hermione will have you PANTING (that's right...panting) for more. She's captured the sexual tension between these two and has it tied up in the corner, begging for mercy. (I wouldn't mind being tied up with Draco...but that's another story!)

* Severus/Harry -

1 - Mottlemoth has managed to send Harry back in time after the war so he can save Severus using Hermione's Time Turner...and it's brilliant! It's so creative...even if you're not a slash lover, just go read the first few chapters. This is the first story I've read like this, and I can promise you that you won't be disappointed! Time and Time Again...see if you agree!

2 - This is a marriage fic, but don't dismay. It has to be one of the BEST I've read! Harry and Severus are amazing in Cithara's A Brave New World. If you like Harry and Severus together, you MUST read!

3 - Harry is engaged to Ginny, but a friendship with Severus forces our hero to re-examine what is truly important in his life. A very well-written tale of the internal conflict that Harry suffers from - sometimes you want to smack him and sometimes you want to hug him! Check out Sweet Mercy's The Cost of Love.

* Harry/Lucius - Sympathy for the Predators by Lomonaaeren is captivating and creative. Her writing style is thorough and descriptive. Takes place in the 'art world'. Ask her to update!!

* Lucius/Ginny - fury-shashka will have you awed by her unique way of bringing this couple together in The Radiant. Her version of Ginny is powerful and erotic, and fury's sex scenes alone will have you wanting a cold shower. Go read!

* Hermione/Remus/Sirius - Yummy 3-somes, how I love them! Kimberlee18 has written Unexpected Consequences, and if you like 3-somes like me, you have to go read this! Sirius and Remus "help" Hermione with a little problem. (I wish they'd help me!)

*Harry/Ron -I have searched off and on for years to find a good Harry/Ron story, but it just never happened...until now. WiseacreWerds has written a remarkable slash story that you'll enjoy even if Harry/Ron isn't your favorite pairing. Aside from being a very talented writer (and sweet as can be), his storyline is extremely believable and realistic. Both characters are quite canon in Love Games, which is almost impossible to do when putting them together, and their progression throughout the story - both physical and emotional - is spot on. Really - go read. Now.

* (Author) LadiePhoenix007 - Not even going to try to pick just one. READ THEM ALL. :)

Moonlight:

* Josef/Beth/Mick - That's right. Did you like the show? Did you want to see these 3 hook up desperately? Do you just like vampires? Well grab some ice (because I assure you, you'll need it) and head over to Laurelin the Pale's Some Women Like That. It's well written, it's progressive and it's HAWT. I am actually NOT a big vamp fan, but I was wishing like hell I could find a man with fangs after this!

Pirates of the Caribbean:

Captain Barbossa/OC - Yes, I will admit that I have a bit of an interest in Barbossa. Everyone loves Jack and Will, but being attracted to Barbossa requires a certain kind of woman to appreciate his rugged exterior and gruff mannerisms. Nytd has written what is - I think - the best interpretation of Captain Barbossa that I've ever read. She's nailed down his behavior, the way he speaks, his unique humor, his wiliness...just everything about him. She has paired him up with a character of her creation, a doctor named Madeline, and she's entwined the storyline with the existing POTC trilogy. Jack also enters the story later, for those who are interested. I can't express enough to you how amazingly brilliant the story is - you simply must go read! The story is a series, so here is the suggested reading order: Memories of May, The World Loves a Spice of Wickedness, A Single Night of May, Flowers of May, A Caribbean Carol, A Rose Among the Thorns, Romancing the Black Pearl and A Night of Rum & Roses. Now, 4 of those are companion pieces, so pay attention to the prompts when Nytd mentions them. Did I mention how amazingly brilliant the story is? ;)

Thanks for stopping by!! (Now go read my other stories!)